'Showtime' Launches on Apple TV for $10.99 per Month

[MacRumors]

Showtime today confirmed that its self-titled standalone streaming service will be released today for the Apple TV, allowing viewers to pay for Showtime's exclusive series directly without needing a cable subscription (via Re/code).

First announced just over a month ago, the service will cost those interested $10.99 per month and everyone can sign up for a 30-day free trial to test the experience before subscribing. The service will cost users a few dollars less than HBO NOW's $15 streaming cost, which debuted exclusively on Apple TV earlier in the Spring.

Showtime's launch today comes in a bit ahead of the previously-announced July 12 release date for the standalone service, a date that coincided with the network's big summer premieres of Ray Donovan and Masters of Sex. No doubt giving users a few days to prepare before the summer premieres, those interested should be start seeing the Showtime app on the Apple TV shortly.

Article Link: 'Showtime' Launches on Apple TV for $10.99 per Month

 

[iJandro]

Wow, the first of many subscribed channels to come!

 

[laurim]

I appreciate that they are less than HBO's $15 but I don't see the reason to do $10.99. I get why they would do $9.99 to not get to a $10 threshold but the psychological difference between 10 and 11 isn't that great to need a .99 trick. I'm actually kind of tired of the whole .99 trick because my brain has to automatically round it up. The attempted manipulation is annoying. I prefer round numbers. DIE penny, die already.

 

[2010mini]

Cool. Non-pay TV folks rejoice!

 

[BJMRamage]

Article Link: 'Showtime' Launches on Apple TV for $10.99 per Month[/QUOTE]

I appreciate that they are less than HBO's $15 but I don't see the reason to do $10.99. I get why they would do $9.99 to not get to a $10 threshold but the psychological difference between 10 and 11 isn't that great to need a .99 trick. I'm actually kind of tired of the whole .99 trick because my brain has to automatically round it up. The attempted manipulation is annoying. I prefer round numbers. DIE penny, die already.

Maybe they couldn't do $10...and the accountants said it had to be at least $11.
Then some Marketing Exec said if you make it $10.99 people with think of it as $10...which is still nicer than $11.

 

[nepalisherpa]

HBO and Showtime are just being greedy. They both cost $9.99 to add as a cable package. Meaning, that $9.99 also includes cable's cut. I think $5.99 would have been an awesome price for these. They would get many more customers.

 

[The_Grifter]

HBO and Showtime are just being greedy. They both cost $9.99 to add as a cable package. Meaning, that $9.99 also includes cable's cut. I think $5.99 would have been an awesome price for these. They would get many more customers.

Yeah, and just think of how many they'd get if the services were free! Or if they paid everyone five bucks a month to use the service! Or if they made everyone in America an employee of the network with an annual salary of $100,000 and a retirement package! They'd get SO MANY more customers!

I don't know where you live, but here, the add-on channels are $19.99/month, so HBO and Showtime are significantly cheaper as standalones.

 

[machpost]

Now how about a Comedy Central app for the Apple TV, like the one that just showed up on Roku.

 

[nepalisherpa]

Yeah, and just think of how many they'd get if the services were free! Or if they paid everyone five bucks a month to use the service! Or if they made everyone in America an employee of the network with an annual salary of $100,000 and a retirement package! They'd get SO MANY more customers!

I don't know where you live, but here, the add-on channels are $19.99/month, so HBO and Showtime are significantly cheaper as standalones.

It is $9.99 for me to add them through Timewarner. One thing I forgot when I posted earlier is that Apple is probably getting some cut so, $5.99 I mentioned earlier might be a little low for them. However, I have Netflix for $7.99 and Netflix offers much more than HBO/Showtime can ever.

 

[CrAkD]

I'm getting showtime for a discounted $8.99 thru cable right now once that runs out I'll move it to the Apple TV but I hope these companies get their streaming together HBO was choppy as hell at first

 

[LordBeelzebub]

By the time you add all these separate services up that cost 10+ bucks a month, (Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime, HBO Now, Showtime, etc) to equal that same programming you had with cable or satellite, it's going to cost virtually the same as what you was paying before, but instead of all your programming being from one provider, you now have to use all these different apps to watch what you want, different fees. Tell me again how this is better than cord cutting again?

 

[TonyC28]

$25 for two channels (HBO and Showtime). So far I'm not too excited about the future of a la carte TV.

 

[jdillings]

It is $9.99 for me to add them through Timewarner. One thing I forgot when I posted earlier is that Apple is probably getting some cut so, $5.99 I mentioned earlier might be a little low for them. However, I have Netflix for $7.99 and Netflix offers much more than HBO/Showtime can ever.

75% of the titles on Netflix are crap that no one actually watches. Quantity doesn't equal quality. HBO/Showtime actually have new movies which Netflix doesn't.

 

[gixxerfool]

By the time you add all these separate services up that cost 10+ bucks a month, (Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime, HBO Now, Showtime, etc) to equal that same programming you had with cable or satellite, it's going to cost virtually the same as what you was paying before, but instead of all your programming being from one provider, you now have to use all these different apps to watch what you want, different fees. Tell me again how this is better than cord cutting again?

That's easy. Turn the tv off and go outside. There isn't much worth watching anyways. I am one of the cord cutters that wanted an ala carte service. Not in this manner though. I would be happy with a $30 a month access for local channels then $1 a channel for whatever I want to get beyond that. Sadly that didn't happen. So I pay for Netflix and have a digital antenna for my local channels. We fill in the gaps we want with Blu-Rays. Still cheaper than a monthly cable subscription.

 

[nepalisherpa]

By the time you add all these separate services up that cost 10+ bucks a month, (Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime, HBO Now, Showtime, etc) to equal that same programming you had with cable or satellite, it's going to cost virtually the same as what you was paying before, but instead of all your programming being from one provider, you now have to use all these different apps to watch what you want, different fees. Tell me again how this is better than cord cutting again?

Cable does not give me 2-day free shipping.
Cable does not give me unlimited music streaming.
Cable does not give me access to 100,000+ movies and TV shows.

I don't think people who opt for these services are looking to get the same programming as cable. It's mostly for people who want HBO/Showtime without the "base cable price."

 

[BellsWhistles]

$25 for two channels (HBO and Showtime). So far I'm not too excited about the future of a la carte TV.

Oh, I completely agree with you on that one. Even the package that Apple was trying to put together for $40. That's like cable ... only smaller ...

Not sure where all this is going, but so far it looks like it's simply evolving. Not getting better.

 

[admln]

They quietly left out that the App is no longer free even if you pay for showtime on your Cable package..

 

[nepalisherpa]

75% of the titles on Netflix are crap that no one actually watches. Quantity doesn't equal quality. HBO/Showtime actually have new movies which Netflix doesn't.

Your viewing preference is not the same as mine. You may find better contents on HBO/Showtime, but, to me, Netflix is more than enough.

 

[Kaibelf]

It is $9.99 for me to add them through Timewarner. One thing I forgot when I posted earlier is that Apple is probably getting some cut so, $5.99 I mentioned earlier might be a little low for them. However, I have Netflix for $7.99 and Netflix offers much more than HBO/Showtime can ever.

That's temporary. After 90 or 180 days, they usually go to about 15 or 20.

 

[admln]

Your viewing preference is not the same as mine. You may find better contents on HBO/Showtime, but, to me, Netflix is more than enough.

HBO shows only movies most people have seen already, it's bland for months at a time.

 

[shanson27]

Apple's new motto: pay, pay, pay !

 

[myname70]

Is it only for USA accounts ?

 

[Godzilla71]

Surprised at the price. Hulu is advertising just an extra $8.99/mo to add it to your Hulu account which would be the cheaper alternative if you already have Hulu and would also like Showtime.

 

[bushido]

Is it only for USA accounts ?

what do u think?

 

[ohio.emt]

Surprised at the price. Hulu is advertising just an extra $8.99/mo to add it to your Hulu account which would be the cheaper alternative if you already have Hulu and would also like Showtime.

It was announced about a month ago that Hulu cut a deal for to offer it cheaper then anywhere else. More then likely Hulu isn't taking a cut or a smaller one. Since they are already getting the money for the plus sub.